Over 60 luminaries to topline Sharjah book fair

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

The 38th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2019) will be a dream come true for book lovers, with more than 60 international authors and cultural personalities set to participate in the third largest book fair in the world.

SIBF 2019 will take place from Oct.30 to Nov.9 at Expo Centre Sharjah. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), a prime feature of the fair each year is its extensive programme of seminars, speeches and panel discussions featuring renowned writers and novelists from around the world.

This year’s roster of celebrities includes America’s most-loved host, Steve Harvey, taking part as SIBF’s ‘Principal Guest of Honour’, Nobel Prize-winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk and Mark Manson, a blogger, internet entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author whose books have reached #1 in 13 different countries, been translated into more than 50 languages and sold nine million copies worldwide.

Bestselling crime novelist and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, whose books were the basis of the popular television series ‘Bones,’ will be present along with the author of the bestsellers ‘Nemesis’, ‘Genesis’ and ‘Chrysalis’, and ‘Virals’ series, Brendan Reichs.

James Clear, a bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker and photographer, writes about habits and self-improvement. Elisabetta Dami is a bestselling children’s author from Italy whose Geronimo Stilton series have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 180 million copies. Ibtihaj Muhammad, a champion Olympic fencer, author, speaker and entrepreneur from the USA, is the best-selling author of ‘The Proudest Blue,’ and her memoir, ‘Proud’.

Bestselling thriller writer Steven James is the author of ‘The Queen’ and ‘Every Wicked Man’. Fabrice Jaumont is an award-winning educator, researcher and author from France. Ellah Wakatama Allfrey is a former deputy editor of ‘Granta’ magazine and the founding publishing director of ‘The Indigo Press.’ TEDx speaker Céline Santini has written 25 self-help books for adults and children.

Bernice L. McFadden is the author of 10 critically acclaimed novels including the award-winning ‘The Book of Harlan’. H.M. Naqvi is the award-winning author of ‘Home Boy’ and ‘The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack’. Editor and author Joanne C. Hillhouse has been listed on LitHub and has published six books. Internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen Ritz is the author of the best-selling book, ‘The Power of a Plant’, and the founder of Green Bronx Machine. Kathleen Antrim is an award-winning author, host and commentator.

Leila Aboulela is the author of ‘The Kindness of Enemies’ and five other bestsellers. Lynne Constantine cowrites thrillers such as ‘The Last Mrs Parrish’ and the television series ‘The Network’. Valerie Constantine Rees wrote ‘The Last Time I saw You’ and is the co-author of ‘The Last Mrs Parrish’. Ghanaian Margaret Busby became Britain’s youngest and first black woman publisher when she co-founded Allison & Busby. She compiled the groundbreaking anthologies, ‘Daughters of Africa’ and ‘New Daughters of Africa’.

Author of children and young adult fiction, S.K. Ali’s bestsellers ‘Saints and Misfits’ and ‘Love from A to Z’ have been shortlisted for many awards. Natàlia Cerezo is a novelist and short story writer from Spain. Author, screenwriter, director and editor Pablo Herrán’s first novel ‘Manuel Bergman’ elevated him to the Spanish Government’s list of 10 best Spanish authors between the ages of 30 and 40. Diana Darke is an expert in cultural affairs in the Middle East. Her books include ‘My House in Damascus’ and ‘The Merchant of Syria’. She also co-authored the recently published ‘The Last Sanctuary in Aleppo’.

Disc jockey and former athlete James Haskell has played international rugby and represented England 77 times. Jessica Jarlvi is a Swedish author and public speaker known for her bestselling thrillers, including ‘When I Wake Up’. Meik Wiking is the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute and the author of several bestsellers.

Justin Marozzi is an author and former journalist who has published several award-winning books. Upile Chisala is a poet and storyteller from Malawi who has published several award-winning anthologies.